Tent



Feb. 4, 1947; b, DUNN. 2,415,343

' I TENT v Filed Aug. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l y JAIME/V702 DAV/0 L. DUNN.

Patented Feb. 4, 1947 UNIT ED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENT David L. Dunn, Seattle, Wash.

Application August 22, 1945, Serial No. 611,938

Claims.

This invention relates to tents, and more particularly to improvements in tents of that kind having a pair of hingedly joined floor forming sections upon which a tent top and supports therefor are mounted, and which floor sections and tent top with its supports may be collapsed for easy handling and ccnveniencein transportation or storage.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved tent structure of the above stated character that makes possible the folding together of the floor sections and the collapsing and containing of the tent top and its supports entirely within the limits of and between the-floor sections without any disconnection of parts, and provides also for protectively containing bedding, clothing and the like, between the floor sections.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a novel hinge design for joining the complemental sections and through which a definite and ample clearance between the sections for the tent top and its supports, bedding and the like, is insured, Furthermore, to provide a hinge for joining the sections that serves also as a hinge mounting for the central supporting bow of the tent top.

Still further objects. of the invention are to. be found in the details of construction of parts, and in their combination andmode'of use as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing. these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved de tails of construction. the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tent embodying therein the improved features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the erected tent.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the tent forming parts in collapsed relationship as for storage or transportation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing one of the hinges for joining the floor sections and serving as a mounting for one end of the central tent top supporting bow.

It is the intention that the present tent be de signed in such manner that it may easily be terials used was givendue consideration, and the device was so designed that when erected, it will provide sufficient space upon one section of the floor, for a bed, and the other will provide space for. dressing.

However, these dimensions and uses are only to giveabetter understanding of the character of the tent as designed for ordinary camping requirements, and it is not to be implied that they cannot be varied as required to meet any special requirements.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- The: present tent comprises two complementai floor; sections, here designated in their entireties by reference characters A and B. Each floor sec tion is of rectangular form and comprises a floor panel I mounted upon sills 2,.which extend along opposite ends and along opposite sides thereof. The floor panel I preferably is of plywood and is nailed directly to the sills and is here shown as being, additionally supported by spaced cross members, designated at 3, which. extend between the longitudinal sills.

In order that the floor sections may be more easily leveled upand given better support, it is desirable to attach corner footin blocks 4 to each of the corner portions of the sill structure, as best shown. iniFigs. 1' and. 2.

A tent of practical size, considered from the standpoint of handling and the various requirements of camping, would be approximately 14 feet long and from four to five feet wide. The sill depth might be from four to six inches, and the floor should be a single panel of plywood /4" to thick". This insures ample strength and rigidity without any excess weight.

When the tent is erected, the paired floor sections A and B are disposed end to end in the same horizontal planes, and they are hingedly joined so that they may be folded together after the fashion of closing a book. Two hinges are used for this purpose, and they are located adjacent the opposite ends of the floor joint, one of the hinges being shown in Fig. 4. Each hinge comprises a pair of hinge plates 5-5 which are fixed by bolts or screws to the adjacent end sills, and these plates extend a few inches above the level of the floor; for example, approximately three inches, and those of each pair are joined by a hinge pin 6. By reason of locating the hinge axis above, the floor level, it will be understood that when the two floor sections are folded together, there will be a certain amount of clearance between them, and it is in this clearance space that the tent top, its supports, bedding, and the like.

may be contained during transportation and storage.

The tent top is designated by reference numeral l and it is of a length and width corresponding to the floor area provided by the two floor sections, and it is secured about its bottom edge to the peripheral portion of the floor as noted in Fig. 2. The tent top is of canvas and is of the ri e typepthe ridge being directly above and parallelto the joint between floor sections. Y

The tent top is supported in its erected position by a central bow l2 and side bows l3-l3. These bows are preferably of tubular form, and of a light, durable metal. Each bow comprises a horizontal top portion and parallel leg portions. The two legs of the central bow I2 are hingedly mounted at their lower ends on the hinge pins 6 of the floor hinges. The legs of the cross bows 13-13 are likewise hingedly fixed at their ends to brackets 16 that are attached to the floor sections at short intervals from the hinges --5, as will be understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 4. The horizontal cross bars of the three bows are not fastened to the canvas, but the dimensions of the tent are such that when the bows are swung upwardly to position for support of the top, as shown in Fig. 2, the tightness of the canvas against them will hold them in place. However, if it should be so desired, the canvas could be attached to the cross bars to insure their retaining proper supporting relationship.

It is to be understood also that the height of the supporting bows is such that when collapsed against the floor, they do not project beyond the ends of the floor sections. This is shown in Fig. 3.

The tentis formed with an opening 9 at the front side by a partially detached fiap 20 as noted in Fig. 1. The back wall could conveniently and practically be equipped With opening 22 for ventilation, and these covered with a mosquito bar 23, as shown.

Tents of this kind are collapsed from the erected position of Fig. 2 by lifting and folding one of the floor sections back upon the other. The lifting of a section releases the tension on the tent top and the bows l3--|3 are then allowed to be swung down against their corresponding floor sections and the bow i2 assumes an intermediate position. The canvas may be folded into the space between bows. If a bed is contained in the tent, as designated at 25 in Fig. 2; this need not be removed. It will be protectively retained between the collapsed floor sections. When collapsed, the tent maybe easily carried by two persons, and can be tied on an automobile top, or boat for easy transportation.

To erect the tent, it is merely required that the floor sections be opened apart and the supporting bows swung up to supporting position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tent of the character described comprising a pair of complemental floor forming sections hinged together end to end and adapted to be folded from extended, floor forming relationship, to a collapsed relationship, one directly overlying the other, a tent top attached about its bottom edges to the peripheral portion of the floor as formed by sections in extended relationship, and

, man of supporting bows for said tent top be collapsed with the tent top between the floor sections when they are closed together.

2. A tent as recited in claim 1 wherein the said supporting bows for the tent top are independent of the top and of each other and are adapted to be held in functional position by the tension of the tent top thereagainst.

3. A tent of the character described comprising a pair of complemental floor forming sections hinged together end to end and adapted to be folded from extended, floor forming relationship to a collapsed relationship, one directly overlying the other, a tent top attached about its edges to the outside peripheral portions of the floor forming sections, and a plurality of transverse supporting bows for said tent top, hinged to the floor sections and adapted to be collapsed with the tent top between the floor sections when they are closed together; said floor section joining hinges having their hinge axes above the floor level, to provide clearance between the sections when they are closed together.

4. In a tent of the character described comprising a pair of rigid complemental sections of rectangular form disposed end to end, to form a floor, a tent top attached about its bottom edges to the peripheral edge of the floor-formed by said sections, a central, transverse supporting bow for the tent top, and a pair of hinges joining the floor sections and located respectively adjacent opposite ends of the floor joint between sections and permitting the said floorsections to be folded together and the tent top to be collapsed between them; each hinge having a hinge pin, and the said supporting bow having the lower ends of its legs mounted on said hinge pins and adapted to swing thereon toward either floor section when the structure is collapsed.

5. A tent as in claim 4 wherein the hinge axes of the said pair of hinges is located above the floorlevel to give clearance between the floor sections when collapsed.

DAVID L. DUNN. 

